A magnificent church inspires a worshipful whisper.

The word exploded from the man next to me. He tried to whisper the Savior’s name to himself. It didn’t work.

“Jesus!”

We had just stepped into a huge—no, immense—Benedictine church. It was attached to a monastery founded in A.D. 1089 in Melk, Austria. Our tour group was ten days into a river cruise across Europe. We averaged at least two astounding churches a day. No one expected this church to be special.

“Jesus!” He did not speak that name in worship. He was startled. Amazed.

The main aisle of this baroque church stretched about the length of half a football field. The ceiling was six stories above the floor. The painted clouds that hovered there were filled with the angels of heaven. They were worshiping Jesus. Saints joined them there, their crowns at the foot of the Savior’s throne.

The pulpit was completely covered with gold. Golden statues of additional angels clung to neck-craning columns. Polished marble arches were decorated with gold filigree in designs that captured Bible themes. Eye-stunning colors were everywhere—reds, blues, greens, but mostly gold.

A soaring four-story altar held gold-covered statues of Paul, Peter, and the Baptist; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; Moses, Elijah, David, and others. They all were honoring the risen and ruling Savior. Floating above the altar was a huge golden crown, symbolizing that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

“Jesus!” I said. But unlike my travel companion, my whisper was worship.

Jesus, I thought, if humans can construct such a breath-robbing place to honor you, what will the heaven you have prepared for us be like? “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).

I wiped a grateful tear. I sat in silent contemplation.

“Jesus!”

Author: James Aderman
Volume 113, Number 04
Issue: April 2026